The Fostorian

11/17/2025

🦃 THE FOSTORIAN — ISSUE 17 IS HERE!
November 16–23, 2025
A full Thanksgiving Week edition packed with community news, history, wellness, and gratitude.

Here’s what’s inside this week’s paper 👇

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-3l7vh_xTm75xRiYwDV7Zmc2zR52hEAOax_vdV2UJzw/edit?usp=drivesdk

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🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Full recap of the Nov 5 Fostoria City Council meeting, including major quotes, unanimous votes on four legislative items, updates on millage success, public comments from residents, and what’s coming next as council prepares the 2026 budget.

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🎪 SECTION 2 — COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Your guide to everything happening Nov 18–23:
• City budget work session
• Community dinner at FNC Hope
• FIS Giving Tree kickoff
• Downtown Candlelight Market
• Fostoria Tree Lighting
• Sunday Turkey Trot & Harvest Market
Plus planetarium shows and Findlay holiday events!

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🏺 SECTION 3 — LOCAL HISTORY & HERITAGE
A deep dive into Thanksgiving in old Fostoria — from harvest rituals and early gas-lit dinners to 1800s recipes, sleigh arrivals, and how families celebrated gratitude before electricity arrived.

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🎨 SECTION 4 — ARTS & CULTURE
“The Art of Thanksgiving”: classic hymns, local creative traditions, poems and prayers, and the symbols of gratitude that shaped Midwestern holiday gatherings.

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💡 SECTION 5 — TECHNOLOGY
“And Then There Was Light” — the evolution of light itself, from fire and lanterns to early photography and digital sensors. A fascinating look at how humans learned to capture light.

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🌿 SECTION 6 — HEALTH, WELLNESS & ENVIRONMENT
Healthy Thanksgiving tips, classic recipes, and a full local weather forecast (Nov 16–23).
Includes home prep, seasonal wellness ideas, and ways to reduce waste during the holiday.

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🏛️ SECTION 7 — STATE NEWS
A breakdown of Ohio’s latest debates on property taxes, levy rules, and post-shutdown SNAP updates — and what these decisions mean for families in the tri-county region.

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🌍 SECTION 8 — ELEVATE
“Thanksgiving Hearts” — practical, meaningful ways to practice gratitude at home, at school, and across Fostoria. Table rituals, acts of service, kid-friendly activities, and land blessings.

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✝️ SECTION 9 — THE CATHOLIC CORNER
This Sunday’s readings on justice, work, and perseverance — plus highlights from Bishop Thomas’s latest Bishop’s Corner and ideas for a truly Catholic Thanksgiving.

11/10/2025

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BBiwdQm3_9J9MwT6x07PLrs2QyGEs6PveWJqLmVZnlw/edit?usp=sharing

✨ The Fostorian – Issue 16: “The Light Within” ✨
📅 November 9 – 16, 2025 📰 Produced by Elliott Shaffer

Fostoria’s story this week glows from every angle — civic, historic, artistic, and spiritual.

🏛️ Council & Local Government
Council met Nov 5 under President Brian Shaver — mayor Donald Mennel thanked voters for passing the millage, and residents shared moving public comments on civic education and remembrance.
💬 “ We really appreciate having the millage pass — it means we can continue the momentum we’ve built.” – Mayor Mennel

🕯️ Community Calendar & Season of Light
From Veterans Day ceremonies to the Harvest Market and Health Fair, neighbors gather to share warmth as winter nears. Honor service, support local markets, and pause for gratitude.

💡 History & Heritage
“The Light Within” revisits Fostoria’s incandescent past — how fire and glass forged a city of light that still shines today.

🎨 Arts & Culture
“Light and Shadow: The Art of Balance” explores yin and yang, the Two Wolves, and poems of light from Tagore and Newman — a journey through contrast and harmony.

🔬 Technology & Digital Life
“And Then There Was Light” — from fire to film to photon, discover how humanity learned to capture illumination.

🌤️ Health, Wellness & Environment
Cold begins the week, then a gentle warming trend through Saturday. Tips for layering, hydration, moon watching, and “light living” indoors and out.

🏛️ State News
Ohio families feel shutdown strains — ACA subsidy losses, Medicaid changes, and SNAP delays. Find Tri-County resources and ways to help.

🌍 Elevate – Lighting the Mind
November wisdom from world traditions — Diwali, All Souls, Loy Krathong, and Native teachings on balance and rest. “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” — Rumi

✝️ Catholic Corner
Feast of the Lateran Basilica reminds us: “You are God’s building … the temple of God which you are is holy.” Prayers, Bishop Thomas insights, and OCIA growth across the diocese.

Issue: 16 - November 9, 2025 - November 16, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Recap — November 5, 2025 Location: Council Chambers, Municipal Building | Presiding: President Brian Shaver Mayor: Donald Mennel | Clerk: Tami...

11/03/2025

🌟 The Fostorian — Issue 15: Into the Light
🗓️ November 2 – 9, 2025
Produced by Elliott Shaffer

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bACADDZOnNAWr45to6RgpHoPMRTfLiJUdOSB9KJRWoI/edit?usp=drivesdk

✨ This week’s edition shines across our community — from Fostoria’s fiscal recovery to the region’s season of light.

🏛 Council & Local Government:
Mayor Mennel urges voter support ahead of Election Day as the city’s income-tax levy shapes Fostoria’s future. Council plans a five-year financial recovery session and explores new partnerships with Bascom EMS.

🎉 Community & Events:
Vote Nov 4, enjoy family fun at Kaubisch Library (11/7), shop the Harvest Market (11/8), and lift your voice with the Tiffin-Seneca Choir (11/9). Across the Tri-County, November’s calendar glows with gratitude and gathering.

🔥 Local History:
Into the Light — Fostoria’s gas and glass boom once made our city the “City of Light.” From gas-lit horse races to global glassmaking, rediscover how flame forged our heritage.

🎨 Arts:
Rabindranath Tagore’s “Light, My Light” meets the Christian season of illumination — a reflection on how poetry and faith share one radiance.

💡 Technology:
“Let There Be Light — and Enlightenment” — smart LEDs, solar chargers, and mindful tech that brightens, not burdens.

🥕 Health & Wellness:
“Eating the Light” — November foods that warm and energize: roots, apples, honey, and sunlight stored in every bite.

🏛 Statehouse Watch:
Ohio’s new bipartisan congressional map, bridge funding for SNAP families, and Medicaid reforms shaping 2026.

🌾 Elevate:
Between light and land — lessons from the Tri-County season of rest and renewal as the first frost settles in.

✝️ Catholic Corner:
“The Souls of the Just Are in the Hand of God.” All Souls Week invites prayer, remembrance, and hope in the promise of eternal light.

🕯️ Read the full issue online or pick up a copy around town.
💬 Comment below: What brings light to your November?

Issue: 15 - November 2, 2025 - November 9, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Recap — October 21, 2025 Mayor Highlights Importance of Upcoming Levy With Election Day just ahead, Mayor Don Mennel emphasized the vital role of the ....

10/27/2025

📰 The Fostorian — Issue 14 is now live
October 26 – November 2, 2025
Produced by Elliott Shaffer

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1criLQvPecNou7j15DR3AZhHyi-LGaALLXeADD5jqYNs/edit?usp=drivesdk

From the heart of downtown to the Ohio Statehouse — this week’s edition is packed with everything that matters right now to Fostoria and our tri-county region.

✅ Fostoria City Council — October 21 recap
— Mayor stresses importance of the upcoming income tax vote
— EMS agreement approved with Bascom
— 5-Year Financial Recovery Session coming Nov. 18
— Yes, the city manager conversation is growing

🎃 Parade Week & Trick-or-Treat Times Inside
Full breakdown of Fostoria and regional events through early November

🌾 Local History & Spirits Beneath the Fog
A powerful look at Indigenous, frontier, and railway ghost accounts rooted right here in Seneca, Hancock & Wood County lands

🧠 Tech Lifesavers Everyone Should Know
The “second call” rule. Hands-free 911. Google’s emergency override. One page you want your kids to read.

🩺 November Survival Prep
Not motivation — infrastructure. How to make your home, body & mind winter-ready before it hits

🏛️ Ohio Statehouse Watch
Redistricting chaos • $2B property tax debate • PACE elderly care expansion

🔥 Elevate Section — “Hold Warmth Before the Dark”
What the land is doing right now — and what your household should mirror

✝️ Catholic Corner
Bishop Daniel Thomas on humility, perseverance, and preparing hearts for All Saints & All Souls

Issue: 14 - October 26, 2025 - November 2, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Recap — October 21, 2025 With Election Day approaching, Mayor Don Mennel opened the evening with a reminder of the vote’s local impact. “This incom...

10/20/2025

📰 The Fostorian – Issue 13 is LIVE (Oct 19–26, 2025)
This week’s lead story: Fostoria City Council heads into a pivotal Oct. 21 session focused on public safety, youth civic engagement, and early budget strategy for 2026. Key decisions ahead include the School Resource Officer contract, EMS expansion, and potential e-bike/e-scooter regulation.

Fostoria — Seneca — Hancock — Wood.
Real news. Real people. Real local impact.
➡️ Full issue here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P7jIq5E_fwUs1oxXuISuLlSA8bNAvvHS6FQVKTEzlIc/edit?usp=drivesdk

Also inside this week’s edition:

✅ Local Events — Chili Cook-Off today, Halloween Parade next Sunday, Trick-or-Treat dates for Fostoria & Tiffin, Women in Business Luncheon, BGSU Planetarium “Spooky Space,” final fall farmers markets & more.
🏹 Local History Spotlight — The story of Jikonsaseh, the Seneca Mother of Nations whose leadership helped birth the Great Law of Peace.
👻 Arts & Culture — Ohio’s most enduring folklore and haunted histories from the Black Swamp to Moonville Tunnel.
📱 Tech Lifesaver Tips — The phone features nobody teaches you — but could matter in an emergency.
🍂 Health & Home — First frost prep, immunity timing, home atmosphere care, and grounding rituals for the season.
🏛 Ohio Statehouse Watch — Delta-8 ban paused, NIL vote coming for Ohio high-school athletes, and school bus driver shortages intensifying.
✝️ Catholic Corner — “Pray always without losing heart.” Reflection on persistence, gratitude, and lifting one another like Aaron and Hur.

Issue: 13 - October 19, 2025 - October 26, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT City Leadership Prepares for Pivotal October 21 Session — Public Safety, Youth Civic Access, and Budget Priorities Lead the Agenda As Fostoria City Council reconvenes on T.....

10/13/2025

📰 The Fostorian — Issue 12 is out! (Oct 12–19)|

👉 Read the full issue. Share with a neighbor. Send us your events, wins, and prayer intentions. Fostoria, this is your story—let’s tell it together.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Es2ZwGIZuQe0shHE5kvqARQcAxCTTa9PGaaoDo7ziGY/edit?usp=sharing

🏛 Council & Local Government (Oct 7)
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclaimed; First Step’s vital work highlighted
• South Town Street 25 mph for overpass project approved (emergency)
• Gas aggregation, Rail Park parking, park grants adopted
• E-bike and e-scooter safety headed to committee
🗓 Next council: Tue, Oct 21

📅 Community & Tri-County Events
• Fall Fest & Candy Crawl — Sat, Oct 11, Downtown
• FCAC Wine & Cheese — Fri, Oct 17
• Boujee Chili Cook-Off — Sun, Oct 19
• Library story time, teen art, movie marathon, and more

🪶 Local History & Heritage
Thunderers, serpents, and nature spirits in Ohio folklore—how Great Lakes legends still echo along our rivers and lakes.

🎨 Arts & Culture
Ohio’s October through brush and verse—Duncanson, Curran, Harper, Dunbar, and more.

🧪 Tech, Science & Innovation
Practical October wins: password managers, two-factor authentication, library apps, and local pathways from classroom to career.

🍂 Health, Wellness & Environment
Your Oct 12–19 wellness forecast, immunity tips, and an Autumn Glow Grain Bowl you’ll actually make.

🌾 ELEVATE
First frost prep, compost starts, home as sanctuary, and the Hunter’s Moon on Oct 17.

✝️ Catholic Corner
“Do your duty with love, speak truth with compassion, return to give thanks.” Highlights from The Bishop’s Corner and Sunday Scriptures.

Issue: 12 - October 12, 2025 - October 19, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Meeting Recap — October 7, 2025 📍 Council Chambers | ⏰ 6:00–6:44 p.m. | All members present Invocation & Opening The meeting began with an invoc...

10/06/2025

📰 The Fostorian — Issue 11 (Oct 5–12, 2025) is here!
📖 Read now ➜ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xjyutvTm65AWwVRJMOPrNMOaRJoAeeJ2g7BVmPX8ZTg/edit?usp=sharing

Here’s what’s inside this week’s edition ⤵️
🏛️ City Council Recap — PFAS updates, budget changes & Oct 7 preview
🎃 Tri-County Fall Guide — parades, trick-or-treat nights & family fun
📜 Local History — Mary Lott’s 1826 October on the Ohio frontier
🎨 Arts & Culture — Ohio’s October in art & verse
💻 Tech & Innovation — simple tools & AI resources for everyday life
🌿 Health & Wellness — 8-day Fostoria forecast, fall recipes & routines
🌾 Elevate — frost prep, harvest wisdom & hunting season guide
✝️ Catholic Corner — St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Respect Life Month, and Faith in Action — walking the “Little Way” with love and mercy

If you enjoy real, local, and uplifting news, please like, share, and tag a neighbor 🍎🌽🕯️

Issue: 11 - October 5, 2025 - October 12, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer 🏛️ SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Recap — September 16, 2025 💰 Finance Committee August Financials: $22.5M total funds; $16.7M unencumbered; $11.2M in General Fund Revenue: On or ab.....

09/29/2025

🎉 The Fostorian — Issue 10 is live!
📅 Sept 28 – Oct 5, 2025 • Fostoria & Tri-County (Seneca • Hancock • Wood)

Read the full issue ➜ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_75cmis2bBfchHSmPlxsbmznAOosPBc9QGy4_kTrdxc/edit?usp=sharing

Inside this issue:
• 🏛️ Council & Local Government: 9/16 recap — PFAS legal repr. adopted; tax rates/levies approved; SRO contract 1st reading; gas aggregation 2nd reading; next council Oct 7.
• 🌳 City Park refresh: Green Team Days + new concrete co****le boards; rubber surfacing coming.
• 🎃 Halloween Parade: Entries open for Oct 26 @ 5 PM (Main St). Nonprofits FREE; others $25.
• 🗓️ Community Calendar: Rosary Rally (Oct 1), Hops & Vines (Oct 3), Silent Movie Night (Oct 4), markets & trick-or-treat dates across Fostoria, Tiffin, Findlay & BG.
• 🪵 Local History: Frontier September foods & recipes — apple butter, corn dodgers, harvest stew & more.
• 🎨 Arts & Culture: Apple heritage in Ohio art — where to see it now (CMA, Taft, TMA, Zanesville, TAG).
• 🔧 Tech & Innovation: Ohio’s microchip momentum—Intel, workforce training, and the “Silicon Heartland.”
• 🍎 Health & Home: Weekly wellness forecast (Sept 29–Oct 5) + seasonal tips to reset routines.
• 🗽 State News: Free speech & campus safety, farm economics, Cleveland records clash, school funding, redistricting, & more.
• ✝️ Catholic Corner: Bishop Thomas on meeting St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Vincent de Paul, and a simple daily prayer.

Issue: 10 - September 28, 2025 - October 5, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT 🏛️ City Council Recap — September 16, 2025 🕕 6:00 – 6:52 PM | Council Chambers Council convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence. Roll call: Layman, Po...

09/22/2025

🎉 The Fostorian — Issue 9 is live!
(Sept 21–28, 2025 • Fostoria, Ohio)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FThhq8qEWKKWoV18ITc3W1pEmYr_ghe110D7sWCQchc/edit?usp=drivesdk

• City Park refresh (Fostoria, OH) — new concrete co****le boards; rubber surfacing coming 🌳
• Halloween Parade (Fostoria, OH) — entries open now for Sun, Oct 26 @ 5pm (nonprofits free; others $25) 🎃
• Council recap (Fostoria, OH • 9/16) — PFAS ordinance adopted; tax rates/levies approved; finance & public affairs updates 🏛️
• Events: Rail Festival (Fostoria, OH), Sparkle Stroll 5K (Fostoria, OH), Silent Movie Night (Fostoria, OH), plus markets & trick-or-treat dates across Tiffin, Ohio; Findlay, Ohio; Bowling Green, Ohio 📅
• History & Heritage: Ohio’s apple legacy—from Johnny Appleseed to today’s orchards 🍎
• Tech for everyone: simple digital skills for seniors + Ohio tech news ⚙️
• Health & Home: 7-day wellness forecast for Fostoria, Ohio 🏠
• State News (Ohio): Free speech on campus, farm costs & tariffs, and the redistricting deadline 📰
• Catholic Corner: Bishop Daniel Thomas (Toledo, Ohio) on hope at the Cross ✝️

Issue: 9 - September 21, 2025 - September 28, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT City Hall updates Green Team Days at City Park 🌳 In late August, city employees launched the first “Green Team Days”, where multiple departments worked together to refresh ....

09/15/2025

✨ The Fostorian – Issue 8 is here! ✨
📅 Week of September 14–21, 2025
Produced by Elliott Shaffer

👉 Read the full issue here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NxN7t1kBIC_jjlEZgvD8_U9ulO6Kh3uyXZP3ciSOfOM/edit?usp=sharing

This week’s edition covers:
🏛️ Council & Local Government – Officer Demetreus Bell sworn in, inclusive playground update, 9/11 remembrance, tree inventory progress, and EPA partnership to replace lead pipes.
🎉 Community Calendar – Fostoria Farmers’ Market, Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival, Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Findlay, Bowling Green concerts, and statewide fall festivals.
🚂 Local History & Heritage – Fostoria’s rail legacy today: nearly 100 trains daily through the “Iron Triangle.”
🎨 Arts & Culture – Symphony, comedy, theater, and hands-on art workshops across the tri-county region.
💻 Tech & Innovation – What you need to know about AI, IoT, and cybersecurity in 2025.
🌱 Health & Wellness – Exploring natural & medical approaches to heavy metal detox.
🍎 Elevate – September harvest traditions, monarch migration, equinox reflections, and timeless wisdom.
✝️ The Catholic Corner – Weekly scripture, reflections, and Bishop’s Corner highlights.

📰 The Fostorian – Local stories. Local voices. Tri-County strong.

09/08/2025

📖 Read it all inside this week’s Fostorian!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12uzhNWMIyveKwY7s-2DCku2WjXhgsJowL7sCLYG8yVY/edit?usp=drivesdk

📰 The Fostorian – Issue 7 (Sept. 7–14, 2025)
This week’s edition covers:
🏛 Fostoria Council updates — airport lease approved, PFAS legal action, tree survey progress, and water bill concerns.
📅 Community calendar — 9/11 Memorial, Fall Festival, Oktoberfest, and the 15th Annual Run the Res 5K.
🚲 Local history — Fostoria’s cycling clubs and racing tradition, from high-wheelers to today’s 5K.
🎨 Arts & Culture — Black Swamp Arts Festival winners + regional arts highlights.
💻 Tech & Innovation — smarter screenshots, BGSU’s AI program, and Ohio Tech Day countdown.
🌿 Health & Environment — PFAS testing, West Nile virus, and Lake Erie bloom alerts.
🏛 State News — U.S. takes a stake in Intel; lawmakers tackle Ohio’s housing shortage.

Issue: September 7 – August 14, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 – COUNCIL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Meeting Minutes Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Council Chambers, Municipal Building Opening Council President Brian Shaver called th...

09/01/2025

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day from The Fostorian 🇺🇸

This week we’re taking a short break — no paper will be published as our team spends time with family, friends, and our community.

Labor Day is a time to honor the hard work, dedication, and spirit of those who built and continue to build our towns, farms, factories, and neighborhoods here in Fostoria and across the Tri-County. 💪🌾🏭

We’ll be back next week with more stories of local government, history, events, and the people who make our community strong.

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday — take a moment to rest, enjoy the sunshine, and celebrate the work we all share in building a better tomorrow.

— The Fostorian